I need tips from older girls here...

chibidarkness • 21 June 2012 at 10:44 PM

Yeah, so it's "that time of the month" again, and it hit me hard. Do you guys have any tips for easing the pain? I've tried hot water bags on the belly but that doesn't seem to work. Any tips?

Orderedchaos • 21 June 2012 at 10:46 PM

@chibidarkness Midol works wonders. Its a painkiller, specifically for this, that you can easily get at Walmart.

april__ • 21 June 2012 at 10:49 PM

@chibidarkness

Bananas.

Hot baths.

Stick to healthy foods, fruit and vegetables.

Advil.

Going on Birth control to help regulate makes it a whole lot easier every time.

Wear comfoy clothes. Don't wear jeans, tight shirts, ect.

Herbal teas.

Avoid salty foods.

Avoid caffeine. In chocolate, coffee, coca cola... It makes it worse.

eggcaves_recycling_bin • 21 June 2012 at 10:50 PM

@chibidarkness
-Pain killers like Advil or something.
-Lots of water
-If you know whats causing them, stop and the pain will go away. (Trust me, during that time of the month your body will react differently to things, for me it was sugar that caused them)
-When sleeping or lying down lay flat on your back or side, dont curl up in a ball.

Hope I helped, I know exactly how you feel (Had pains a few days ago)

chibidarkness • 21 June 2012 at 10:51 PM

@orderedchaos

Hmm, I'll keep that in mind, but i'm reluctant to swallow medicine.

@april__

Sounds neat, I'll give it a try, but as for the hot bath...what if the blood gets everywhere?

@eggcaves_recycling_bin

Thanks, but it's hard not to curl up in a ball. DX

lizymarie • 21 June 2012 at 10:52 PM

@chibidarkness

Also make sure to go for a walk. Just walking may help you out. Exercise tends to help me. Also so does.... vigorous activity, if you're that age. (Gosh I'm starting to feel old already)

And i agree with @april__ : Herbal teas will help you a lot, and Bananas.

But, chocolate may actually help you, just no other types of caffeine. (Unless you're going to eat a bunch of candy bars... in which case... don't)

bunnyshadow • 21 June 2012 at 10:52 PM

@chibidarkness Lay down and rest 😊

april__ • 21 June 2012 at 10:52 PM

@chibidarkness

It doesn't.

The blood flow stops in the water.

Hot baths work wonders.

lizymarie • 21 June 2012 at 10:53 PM

@chibidarkness

Don't fret over the blood. 😊 You are a human being, it should not disgust you. If anything find it amusing. (Use bubble baths if it helps you!!)

Orderedchaos • 21 June 2012 at 10:55 PM

@chibidarkness Yeah, not everyone is big on swallowing pills. A lot of what @lizymarie and @april__ suggested are also good ideas. Tea or other hot drinks are good. Gets the warmth right in your belly and helps soothe things from the inside.

chibidarkness • 21 June 2012 at 10:56 PM

@lizymarie

I ain't scared of the blood, just don't wanna see it everywhere in my bath lol, but thanks for the tips. And I'm not "that age" yet, but I'll maybe try giving a few stretches.

@bunnyshadow

Thanks, it's hard to rest when it happens! DX

@april__

Bananas seem to be great to, but ok, I think I will try a hot bath. (Didn't know it stops in water, because I tried showering once when I had it and it leaked everywhere god)

april__ • 21 June 2012 at 10:58 PM

@chibidarkness

In a bath, it should stop.

chibidarkness • 21 June 2012 at 10:58 PM

(wow my computer starts double posting)

@orderedchaos

Mmkay. I guess I'll add tea to the list.

@april__
@bunnyshadow
@eggcaves-recyccling_bin
@lizymarie

Since we're in the topic, I also wanted to ask everybody here, IS IT NORMAL MY "TIME OF THE MONTH" IS STILL IRREGULAR AFTER 2 YEARS? I'm sure that it's normal to be irregular in the beginning, but it's been 2 years and it's still irregular, that kinda worries me. :I

bunnyshadow • 21 June 2012 at 11:09 PM

@chibidarkness You want to edit the P word out of that post 😉

Mine skips sometimes, I've had it for... an year? maybe 2 xD

chibidarkness • 21 June 2012 at 11:11 PM

@bunnyshadow

Edited, replaced it. :>
Man, it's so weird, I don't think it's supposed to skip, normally after having it for a long time, shouldn't it adjust?

april__ • 21 June 2012 at 11:11 PM

@chibidarkness

It is possible for it to still be irregular.

I've had mine for 5 years and at times it still isn't regular. Stress, being sick and all that stuff can impact it.

And when yhou're young, you're still adjusting.

silver_winged • 21 June 2012 at 11:12 PM

@chibidarkness
It's perfectly normal that your period is irregular after two years. It's likely that it'll continue to be irregular for a couple years after that, too. Only when you're completely done with puberty should you expect to be completely regular. c: And even then some people aren't.

My advice:

-As soon as you feel that you have cramps (and you know you have a history of getting bad ones), take a muscle relaxant. Advil, ibuprofen, midol, it all works. But remember to take it EARLY.

-Try and do some regular exercise. Just in general. It'll lighten up your periods.

-Foods rich in magnesium, potassium, and calcium can help. Bananas and dark green vegetables are good. If you need to, take some mineral supplements with your daily vitamins.

-Try not to eat anything too hard to digest. If you're feeling really miserable, just stick to clear broth and toast.

-Don't starve yourself. You will feel worse if you have low blood sugar on top of all that other stuff. Just get something in your system.

-Yoga stretches like the cobra or upward facing dog help open up your abdominal area.

-Keep warm; it reduces muscle tension. Hot water bottles, heated blankets, or even an extra sweater can help. Hot baths are nice too, but be warned that your period may or may not stop in the water (from personal experience). If you're worried, just use a tampon. c:

Orderedchaos • 21 June 2012 at 11:15 PM

@chibidarkness Yup. >.< I've been getting them for about a decade now and I still have about a week and a half window that it could happen it. And it took until I was out of college to even settle into that pattern. Bodies are just weird sometimes.

chibidarkness • 21 June 2012 at 11:20 PM

@april__

Dunno if you count 15 as young, but ok. I didn't know stress or other factors could affect it, thanks.

@silver_winged

Wow, that's a lot of text, very helpful, but whatever do you mean by "taking it early"? As in, before the expected time or at the start of when it's happening?

@orderedchaos

Man, didn't know it was irregular for other people as well, all my friends tell me theirs are regular, so I feel so left out haha. But then again, they've had it earlier then me, I have a slow development I guess.

Orderedchaos • 21 June 2012 at 11:29 PM

@chibidarkness It definitely evens out some as you get older. For some, like myself, it never becomes perfectly regular, but at least you learn to always be prepared.

chibidarkness • 21 June 2012 at 11:32 PM

@orderedchaos

True, I guess, but still frustrating when it hits you UNprepared, like, when you really didn't expect it. (Can't wash it off my underwears, had to throw away many)

Orderedchaos • 21 June 2012 at 11:33 PM

@chibidarkness That part does suck, royally. >.<

savy839 • 21 June 2012 at 11:42 PM

MIDOL MIDOL MIDOL xD I see it was already said, but it's really the only thing that works for me. 😋 I can't take it at school, so I use this heating pad on my lower stomach area, works all right but not as amazing as the midol! 8D
@chibidarkness

balletninja • 22 June 2012 at 12:04 AM

Advil and a comfy rug to lie on while you cringe and wait for the medicine to kick in.

String cheese also helps.

sprite • 22 June 2012 at 12:08 AM

@chibidarkness

That is why you only have underwear for that time of the month. You have to wash in cold water and it's best to let it soak for a bit in the soapy cold water. Sometimes I have to wash twice. As long as you don't dry in the dryer before getting it all out it won't set 😊

Always be prepared and have them with you. Have extras is always good to help out a friend in need, co-worker. I always carried mine in a small ziploc or cosmetic bag. So that way they were protected in my purse, car, coat and work bag. Yes, I have them in all those places lol

Midol does help and should only be used when cramping is really bad.

I have been around for a long time and being irregular comes and goes. Stress is the biggest component.

Good luck figuring it out 😊

silver_winged • 22 June 2012 at 12:17 AM

@chibidarkness
Let me answer that with a personal anecdote. ^^; Last month I wasn't feeling too great. I knew the cramps had started and they were going to get worse, but I put off taking any medication. By the time I finally got around to doing it, the cramping had gotten so bad that I abruptly vomited five minutes after taking it. Without realizing that I'd just expelled the medication from my system, I spent the better part of two or three hours on the bathroom floor, vomiting every once in a while and wondering why the stuff wasn't working.

At the start of when it's happening is usually fine, and you probably won't need it after the second day.

balletninja • 22 June 2012 at 12:49 AM

@silver_winged I either put it off or use it all up on my last time of the month so I have to go out and get more. Keeping medicine stocked is good and if worst comes to worst, naps do wonders.